The Skilled Labor Fund has announced that it is the recipient of a grant from The Home Depot Foundation and National Association of Home Builders that will help the group, alongside the Home Builders Institute, train 1,400 students across nine states in desperately needed skill sets as part of the Schools to Skills program.
“Current projections indicate that by 2030 we will lose 41 percent of the skilled laborers we need to continue the work that is so mission-critical to the success of NAHB, NKBA, and NARI Members,” said HBI CEO Ed Brady in a statement. “If we’re going to make a difference and reverse this trend, it’ll take a united industry all coming together to solve this problem, and ensure the next generation of skilled workers is on its way—ready and able to do the important jobs that keep our world moving forward.”
The grant, a $700,000 endowment, is the result of a $200,000 grant awarded by NAHB through its charity arm, the National Housing Endowment, and a $500,000 pledge from The Home Depot Foundation as part of a larger $50 million grant gifted to HBI to train 20,000 new skilled workers over the next 10 years.
“This grant from the Home Depot Foundation and ‘Schools to Skills’ will help bridge the gap for many young people who see skilled trades training for what it is: A gateway to a successful career free from the burden of student loan debt,” said custom builder and NAHB Chairman Chuck Fowke in a statement. “With these new skilled trades workers, we will be able to help more American families find a desirable home that meets their needs.”
The Schools to Skills program anticipates providing 1,400 16-18-year-old students with training in a variety of in-demand skills relevant to the building and remodeling industries. The recently awarded grant will ensure the program has classrooms, tools, and equipment, as well as OSHA 10 certifications and the actual on-site job training.
The program will operate across nine states yet to be announced.